Federal Court System Notes

Federal Court System

Court Systems

• Two separate court systems exist in the United States:

  1. Federal

  2. State

• Most cases are heard in state courts.

• Two kinds of court cases:

  1. Civil: Dispute between two parties.

  2. Criminal: A crime has been committed; accused person is on trial.

Jurisdiction

• Jurisdiction: The authority to hear a question or case in dispute.

• Original Jurisdiction: Belongs to the court which has the initial authority to hear a case.

• Exclusive Jurisdiction: Jurisdiction belongs to only one court.

• Concurrent Jurisdiction: A case can be heard in one of several courts.

Federal District Court

• District Court: Lowest level of Federal Courts.

• All federal cases must begin at this level (federal district court).

• Each court rules over a district. At least one court per state.

• District Courts complete about 90% of the Federal case load.

Federal District Court’s Purpose

• District Courts handle cases that fall under Federal jurisdiction.

  • Federal Law is being broken.

• District Courts use a jury trial to decide guilt or innocence

  • A person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

• Judges are to interpret the law and determine punishments.

Court Officials

• Federal Judges:

  • Appointed by the President with Senate approval.

  • Salary: $133,600$

  • Serve a lifetime term based on good behavior.

  • Can be impeached.

  • Don’t have to make decisions based on what people want.

• U.S. Attorneys:

  • Represent the government in all cases.

• U.S. Marshals:

  • Make arrests, escort prisoners, keep order in federal court.

• Magistrates:

  • Hear civil cases, issue search warrants.

Federal Appeals Court

• Appeals Court: Serves as the second level in the system.

• Federal Appeals courts have only appellate jurisdiction.

• There are 12 Courts of Appeal in the U.S. which supervise a district.

• Why do cases reach this court?

  • Cases are appealed to the Court because of unfairness or error.

• Circuit courts:

  • 1st Circuit - Boston

  • 2nd Circuit – NYC

  • 3rd Circuit – Philadelphia

  • 4th Circuit – Richmond (NC’s district court)

  • 5th Circuit – New Orleans

  • 6th Circuit – Cincinnati

  • 7th Circuit – Chicago

  • 8th Circuit – St. Louis

  • 9th Circuit – San Francisco

  • 10th Circuit – Denver

  • 11th Circuit – Atlanta

  • DC Circuit – Washington DC

Federal Appeals Court Rulings

• Cases are appealed to this Court because of unfairness or error.

• Appeals Courts can make three decisions in a case:

  • Uphold: Confirm the previous court’s decision.

  • Overturn: Reverse the previous court’s decision.

  • Remand: Send the case back down to a lower court for retrial.